Mr Macaskill replied: "Yes very clearly. That she loved me and described me as the most important person in her life."

He said his wife, Anne, was "angry and upset" when he told her of the affair and demanded that he stop seeing Angelika.

Ms Bain: "You were obviously heavily involved with a young woman who was very keen on you. What were you intending to do with your life?"

Mr Macaskill: "I guess we will never know."

Mr Macaskill said he was in love with Angelika

Mr Macaskill described meetings with Angelika in her room at St Patrick's chapel house and the long discussions they had about the affair and his wife.

After one meeting, the student's diary entry read: "I have never missed anyone as much as I miss Martin even though he was here just a short time ago."

He said the last time he saw her was on 14 September, the day before he went to Majorca to join his wife.

The murder charge against Mr Tobin alleges that between 24 and 29 September of last year at the church in William Street, he raped Angelika, battered her with a piece of wood or something similar and repeatedly struck her with a knife.

It has been alleged that he then hid the body under the floor of the church in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.

He denies all charges against him. In a "special defence" Mr Tobin has admitted having sex with the Polish student, with her consent.

He has been accused of further offences of giving a false name and a breach of the peace.

Mr Macaskill is expected to face further questions when the trial continues on Friday.